Motor-generator



MOTOR-GENERATOR GEORGE C. DEVOL HALL LANGSTROTH Aug. s, 1944. G, C,DEVOL ET AL 2,355,208

MOTOR-GENERATOR Filed July 5, 194s e Sheets-sheet 2 Zzvenv'ns GEORGE C.DEVOL HALL- LANGSTROTH 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 'G. C. DEVOL ETALMOTOR-GENERATOR Filed July 5,1943

Aug. s, 1944.

Z'fzven'ar-.s GEORGE C. DEVOL HALL LANGSTROTH hair Au@ 8, 1944. G. c.DEvoL ErAL 2,355,208

MOTOR-GENERATOR Filed Jul'y 5, 1945 e sheets-sheet 4 Zzven'ors GEORGE C.DEVOL. HALL LANGSTROTH Aug. 8,1944# G. c. DES/ol. Erm.

MOTOR-GENERATOR Filed July 5, 194s 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 )una ganga SM ,WWW rrET @i nCN eEA kVSL e v En M IIEM mm Patented Aug. 8, 1944 UNITED STATESkPATENT OFFICE MOTOR-GENERATOR George C. Devol and Hall Langstroth,Greenwich,

Conn., signora to Maguire Industries, Incorporated, a corporation of NewYork application July 5, 1943, serial No. 493,496

4 claims. (c1. zoo- 1) small power unit' which maybe easily carried intodistant, difiicultly-accessible locations. Another obiect is theprovision of such a unit which will generate a maximum of electricalenergy for its weight and size. A further object is the construction ofsuch a light powerful unit in compact, easily handled form. Otherobjects and advantages of this invention will be obvious from thepresent specification considered in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, wherein- Figure 1 is a side elevation of a motor-generatorconstructed in accordance with the invention, certain parts being cutaway to show the interior of the unit;

Fig. 2 is a similar elevation showing the opposite side of the apparatusillustrated in Figure 1;

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the same apparatus, with certain partscutaway to show details of the interior construction and arrangement;

Fig. 4 is a side elevation similar to Figure 1, with certain additionalparts cut away or Iin section to show the internal construction ofcertain parts which Figure l illustrates in elevation;

Fig. 5 is a view of the same apparatus as seen from the left in Figurel, certain parts being cut away or in section to show the internalconstruction of the apparatus;

Fig. 6 is an elevation of the supercharger unit, viewed' from the leftas seen in Figure l; and

Fig. l is a horizontal sectional view of the muffier unit as seen fromabove.

In many situations it is desirable to carrya generator of electricalenergy to points to which wires cannot or may not reach and which areinaccessible to power propelled vehicles or beasts of burden. If a manis to carry such a generator, it is highly desirable to conserve hisenergy and promote'his mobility by making the generator as light and aseasily handled 'as possible. It is also desirable to produce the maximumof electrical energy for a given weight of portable apparatus. We haveaccordingly departedfrom the usual battery-operated apparatus and have vinvented a new and useful combination of internal combustion motor,supercharger or blower and generator for producing electrical energy.

In the embodiment of the invention which is illustrated in the drawings,there is shown a motor or internal combustion engine I6, a superchargerII, and a generator of electrical energy I2, all carried by the sameframe and all mounted upon the same shaft I3. and ,blower act as aflywheel for the motor. Obviously these three elements do notnecessarily operate upon the same shaft, but their relative speeds maybe varied by providing separate shafts and by using gears or belts orthe like for connecting the elements. Furthermore, these may chines neednot be positioned in the sequence shown in the drawings.

'I'he motor I0 is here shown as a two cycle, two cylinder internalcombustion engine, having pistons I4 and I5 reciprocating in cylindersI6 and I1 respectively, and connected by piston rods I8 and I9respectively to cranks 20 and 2l on the shaft I3. The cylinder I6 isair-cooled by a plurality of cooling elementsl or fins 22, and thecylinder II is air cooled `by a plurality of cooling elements or fins23, in well-known manner.

`Ignition is provided for the engine III by a magneto 24, which isconnected lby leads 25, 25 to a distributor 26; and a condenser 21 isineluded in the combination in the usual manner. Leads 26, 29 connectthe distributor 26 to spark plugs 30 and 3i, in the cylinders lI6 andI'I respectively.

The cylinders I6 and I1 exhaust into a manifold I2, whence an exhaustpipe 33 carries the exhaust to a silencer, here shown as a Maximsllencer 34. A second pipe 35 carries the exhaust gases from thesilencer to a muiller 36 which underlies the entire mechanism. Themuiller comprises a series of open-ended tubes 31a, I'Ib which exhaustinto chambers 38a, 38h. These chambers4 are designed to cushion thepulses of exhausted gas from the entering end of the preceding tube.Pressure built up in the chambers 88a and 36h is relieved by open-endedtubes leading away from the chambers. In the construction illustrated,the tube 31h leads the exhaust gases away from the chamber 36a and intothe chamber 36h; and a final exhaust tube 3l leads the gases away fromthe chamber 38h and out of the apparatus.

Thus, the pulses of exhaust gases, which already have passed through thesilencer 34, are cushioned a plurality of times in the mumer i6, andfinally leave the apparatus in a comparatively steady stream withoutnoise. This is exceedingly important in cases where it is necessary notto disclose the position or presence of the man using the apparatus.

As an additional precaution, the tubes 31a, lib

'I'hus the generator and 39 are supported in dead air spaces 45a, 40h,40e, 40d and 40e. Additional dead air spaces 4I and 42 are providedabout the supporting frames. Finally sound-deadening material 43surrounds the supporting frames and the dead air spaces.

Fuel is supplied to the motor Ill from a saddleshaped fuel tank 44overlying the generator I2. An internally threadedv opening in the topof the tank A44, closed by a threaded plug 45 provides means for fillingand closing the fuel tank. Fuel is withdrawn from the tank 44 by meansof a pipe 46 connected to the bottom of the saddleshaped tank on oneside thereof, and a nipple 41 connected to the bottom of the tank at theother side thereof. The pipe 4G and the nipple 4'I are connected by a T48 to a feed pipe 49. The feed pipe 49 is connected to the carbureter 50of the motor I0, which it supplies with fuel.

The motor I may be started very simply somewhat as an outboard motor isstarted, although any other convenient means may be employed. As hereshown, a ratchet wheel I is fixed to the shaft I3, and a coacting pawl5,2 is carried by a bushing 53 rotatable concentrically with the shaftI3 about a part 54 of the bearing which carries the shaft. (See Fig. 4.)A spiral spring 55 is wound about the bushing 53 and has one endattached to the part 54 as at 55, and the other end attached to thebushing 55 as at 51. A lanyard 58 is wound about a cylindrical flange 59formed on the bushing 53 concentricaliy therewith and outside of thespring 55. 'I'he lanyard 58 has one end fastened to the bushing 53 in amanner not shown, and extends through an opening 60 in the apparatus toa terminal ring 6I to which its other end is attached. The opening 60 isof such size that the ring 6l may not pass therethrough. The spring 55acts to wind the lanyard 58 about the cylindrical iiange 59 and to keepthe lanyard in tension between the bushing 53 and the part of theapparatus in which the opening 60 is formed:

Thus a pull upon the ring 6I turns the bushing 53 about the part 54against action of the spring 55. At the same time the pawl 52 engages atooth on the periphery of the ratchet wheel 5i and turns the ratchetwheel together with the shaft I3 and the parts attached thereto. Themotor is thus started. Upon releasing the ring 6i, the spring 55immediately turns the bushing 53 back to its original position therebydrawing the ring BI against the casing of the apparatus adjacent theopening B0. At the same time, in well known manner, the pawl 52 isdisengaged from the ratchet wheel 5I.

The generator l2 comprises an electromagnet 52 within which rotates anarmature 83, fixed to the shaft I3. In the embodiment illustrated, thearmature rotates at the same speed as the motor I0, being coupleddirectly to the shaft of the motor. Commutator bars 54 are indicated atthe end of the armature farthest from the motor, the complete apparatusbeing too well known to those skilled in the art to require fullillustration of the energy collecting means in the drawings.

Longitudinal passages 65 are provided in the electromagnet 62 to permitpassage of cooling air therethrough. Similar passages 55a may beprovided in the armature. All such passages extend completely throughthe parts in which they are formed in the direction of the armatureaxis. Leads 66, vtt are indicated whereby energy produced bythegenerator i2 may be carried to the point of use.

.The supercharger II comprises a centrifugal blower which draws airthrough a passage or intake opening 51 into its interior where a fan 65throws the air outwardly of the blower in the manner of such fans,circulating the same clockwise when the blower is viewed as in Fig. 6.Obviously other types of supercharger may be substituted for theparticular type here illustrated and described.

The air drawn through the passage 51 enters the apparatus throughlouvers 55 formed in the casing of the apparatus beyond the generatorI2. Air filter material 55a may be provided inside the louvers 55 forexcluding foreign matter g in the air. This air is drawn by thesupercharger II through the generator, which it cools. Thus, connectionof the passage 51 in the supercharger to the passages 55 and 55a,provides a cooling connection between the generator vand thesupercharger. Most of the air passes through the passages 55 and 65a butsome of it may pass through the clearance between the pole pieces 52 andthe armature 63. A booster fan I0 mounted on the outer end of the shaftI3 beyond the lgenerator' I2 assists in moving the air through thelouvers 63, the illter material a and the, generator.

The supercharger discharges air through two outlet openings as best seenin Fig. 6. Most of the air is discharged through a anged opening II intoa large conduit or pipe I2 which is connected with a hood 'I3surrounding the cooling flanges 22 and 23 of the motor cylinders i8 andI1. A column of air thus passes over these flanges and carries heat awayfrom the cylinders in an air stream which passes through the casing ofthe apparatus and out of louvers 'Ila formed in the side of the casing.Thus the large pipe 12 constitutes a cooling connection between thesupercharger and the motor.

The second opening I4 of the supercharger II has fitted therein one endof a small conduit or pipe I5 which is connected at its other end to thecarbureter 50 of the motor to which it supplies air under pressure inthe usual way. 'I'he pipe 15 thus provides a supercharging connectionbetween the supercharger and the motor. The motor I0 is thussupercharged, or more properly scavenged (since a two cycle motor isshown) by the supercharger Il.

The apparatus is compact and easily handled. The entire apparatus ishere shown as inclosed in a portable casing 15, with a carrying handle'Il attached thereto. The motor is preferably a high speed motor whichoperates the' generator at high speed, and the supercharger facilitatesoperation of the whole, not only by cooling the generator and the motor,but by supercharging or scavenging the motor, whereby the latter may beoperated at very high speeds.

Because such apparatus is designed for military or emergency use,economy and durability are not required o1' it. The apparatus isexpected to wear out after a short time and be replaced. by another suchunit. Accordingly, speeds and loads which would normally be pro hibitiveare permissible with this apparatus.

Finally, as indicated above, the apparatus is noiseless and can beoperated secretly. Being a portable, independent power unit, it isadapted for use in isolated localities. Accordingly. the motor-generatorcan -be carried by individual men,.or in non-powered units as gliders,sail boats, tow boats, bicycles, dog sleds and the like. The form of theinvention here described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings ispresented merely by way of illustration. Other forms and applications ofthe invention will readily suggest themselves to those dealing with suchproblems, which do not depart from the lnvention or `the proper scope ofthe appended claims.

We claim:

l. Portable apparatus for generating electric impulses comprising acasing having air intake and muffler connected in series in said casinginto which said motor exhausts.

2. Portable apparatus for generating electric impulses comprising acasing having air intake and air outlet openings therein; a generator ofelectric impulses. 'having air passages through its pole-pieces, mountedin said casing; and an air-cooled motor mounted in said casing foroperating said generator; in combinationwith a supercharger for drawingair through the polepieces of said generator and supplying cooling airand supercharging air to said motor, operatively associated with said-motor and said gen-k erator in said casing; and a silencer and muiilerin series in said casing into-which said motor exhausts.

3. Portable apparatus for generating electric impulses comprising acasing having air intake and air outlet openings therein; a generator ofelectric impulses. having air passages through its pele-pieces andthrough its armature, mounted in said casing; and an air-cooled motor insaid casing for operating said generator; in combination with asupercharger for drawing air through the passages in saidgenerator andsupplying cooling air and supercharging air to said motor, operativelyassociated with said motor and said generator in said casing; and asilencer and muier in series in said casing into which said motorexhausts.

4. A self-contained, portable, silent apparatus for generating electricimpulses, said apparatus comprising a casing, an air-cooled motor insaid casing, a shaft for said motor, a generator mounted on said shaftin said casing and acting as a flywheel for said motor, said generatorhaving air passages through its poles and its armature extending in thedirection of the armature axis, louvers in said casing adjacent saidgenerator for admitting air to said casing, an air filter associatedwith louvers for excluding foreign matter in the air, and exit louversin said casing adjacent said motor for permitting egress of air fromsaid casing, in combination with a supercharger mounted on said shaftbetween said generator and said motor having its intake con- -nected tothe passages in said generator, said supercharger having a large outletand a small outlet, a conduit connecting the large outlet of saidsupercharger to a point adjacent the coolingv elements of said motor, asecond conduit connecting the small outlet oi said supercharger to thecarbureter of said motor, a silencer in said casing into which saidmotor exhausts, a multichamber muiiier in said casing into which saidsilencer exhausts. and a covering of sound-deadening materialsurrounding said muiiier, substantially as described.

GEORGE C, DEVOL.

HALL LANGSTROTH.

